Many health experts have expressed concerns about the ubiquitous polystyrene foam cup being detrimental to health, potentially even causing cancer. But hundreds of millions of cafes and restaurants continue to serve up hot beverages in foam cups, ignoring these health warnings simply because foam cups offer more cost-savings and convenience over other forms of cups. But that’s about to change, at least in Fujairah, in the United Arab Emirates.The emirates’ Higher Committee for Consumer Protection (HCCP), which works under the aegis of the Ministry of Economy has now imposed a ban on the use of styrofoam cups, which are used for serving hot beverages such as tea, coffee and hot chocolate, as well as sour beverages like grape juice and orange juice. This ban comes after the committee took serious note of a number of studies that proved how drinking hot and sour drinks out of styrofoam cups could prove extremely harmful to human health.

The HCCP called upon competent bodies such as the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) and municipalities to impose heavy penalties on violators. As part of these new rules, the committee has said that cafes and restaurants that serve hot beverages will be placed under the scanner and penalties will be imposed on those establishments that flout the rules. According to the new rules, fines of up to Dh 100,000 will be levied on establishments going against the rules, and those that repeat the offence will even face closure.According to a recent survey by the National Research Centre, which is affiliated to the federal government of the United States, Styrofoam food containers and foam cups contain a carcinogenic substance called Styrene. When heated, this substance could lead to cancer.After reading about the international study, local bodies in Fujairah undertook similar studies as well to gain a better understanding of the effects of plastic and Styrofoam on human health. Earlier, the committee had also imposed a ban on the use of plastic cups for serving up hot beverages.